Fond memories for Ducati at the Catalunya circuit

Fond memories for Ducati at the Catalunya circuit

After a positive conclusion to the winter test schedule, which saw the Ducati Marlboro Team involved at faraway circuits in Sepang, Phillip Island and Doha, the Italian squad returns to Europe for the first official appointment of the 2005 MotoGP season.

`I am sure that both our riders can't wait to take part in this first real confrontation" declared Livio Suppo, MotoGP project manager. "The results of the winter tests are very encouraging and they demonstrate that the technical decisions taken have put the development of the Desmosedici on the right track. The collaboration with Bridgestone is also continuing well and is giving great satisfaction to both parties. I believe that all the conditions are there for an interesting season ahead! Now all we have to do is wait for Sunday afternoon, when we will see what the lap times are like", he added.
Encouraged and motivated by the pre-season tests, Loris Capirossi is raring to get back at the Spanish circuit. `We worked a lot during the winter, both on the track and in the company, and I am curious to see how we go against all the other riders at what is considered to be more or less the first 'race' of the season," explained Loris. "I have splendid memories of Barcelona after winning here in 2003 and hopefully I'll be able to add some new ones!´.
Ready for his first official outing on a factory Ducati, Carlos Checa is also anxious to face up to his rivals. The Spaniard also holds good memories of Catalunya.
`Here I took part in my first race in the 125 world championship as a wild-card and three years later I scored my first win in the 500s,´ remembers Carlos. `All of my friends will be there to cheer me on and this year they will see me on a Ducati: that's an emotional feeling. I am pleased with the way the bike improved over the winter, I know that we still have to work hard to be with the front-runners but I am ready. I know that the Desmosedici adapts well to this track and I hope that we can get the most out of these three days of testing´.
Ducati will continue development, which began at Jerez in February, of a new system of engine braking modulation. This is involves special software designed by Ducati Corse that acts on engine and clutch management parameters to give greater stability under braking by reducing the rear-wheel braking effect which is common with four-stroke machines.